No criminal charges for Tucson sergeant who knocked down UA student during March riot
Oct 21, 2014, 6:55 PM | Updated: Oct 25, 2014, 9:15 am
PHOENIX — The Pima County Attorney’s Office will not be filing criminal charges against a Tucson Police sergeant who knocked down a young woman during a large riot in March, the Tucson PD said Tuesday.
The rioters largely consisted of University of Arizona students and fans, and the bedlam took place March 29 in Main Gate Square after the men’s basketball team lost to Wisconsin in the Elite 8 round of the NCAA tournament.
During the chaos, Sgt. Joel Mann was captured on video violently knocking over a 21-year-old UA senior Christina Gardilcic, according to Tucson News Now.
Fifteen arrests were made that night, all for misdemeanor offenses, but only one person was booked in Pima County Jail.
A city review board concluded in July that the sergeant acted inappropriately in his handling of the rioters, but that the police department’s overall response was satisfactory. Mann is accused of shoving two other individuals. He was on military leave at the time the review board released its report.
Tucson News Now says the FBI is still investigating whether Mann violated Gardilcic’s civil rights during the melee.
It’s unknown if Sgt. Mann will face discipline by the department. TPD concluded its internal administrative investigation by Aug. 25, but officials will not release the findings until Sgt. Mann has a chance to appeal.